Law enforcement agencies throughout the world
have long recognized the value of properly trained police service dogs. These
animals, when appropriately utilized, have time and time again proved themselves
instrumental in achieving the objectives and missions of the law enforcement
agency. The police K-9, due to its strength, agility,
courage, and amazing olfactory capabilities can be utilized to assist law
enforcement in various tasks in a more thorough and efficient manner.

Because of these attributes,
some police service
dogs can be utilized to assist in searching for potentially violent criminals,
aid in the apprehension of fleeing criminals who may place innocent community
members or other police officers at risk of injury. The dogs also offer the
department an effective public relations tool to disseminate information about
the Police Departmentís mission, functions, and crime fighting efforts.

The
Port Arthur Police Department's K-9 Detail has a strong record of success in
finding lost, missing, and fugitive persons along with victims of
drowning. The Narcotics canines have located illegal drugs in some of the
most difficult and unlikely hiding places. Amounts vary from month to
month, but the PAPD K-9 Detail is often responsible for locating and seizing
many grams of methamphetamines and heroin, cocaine and marijuana. In
potentially dangerous situations, the police K-9 can often assume the risk by
preventing exposure of a police officer to a violent confrontation.

Single Purpose:

The single purpose narcotic detector dog
is able to detect the odors of several different narcotics.

Dual Purpose :

The dual purpose dogs are fully trained and
qualified as Police work dogs for patrol purposes and narcotic detection. The dual purpose dogs are able to track missing persons or suspects, apprehend
violent felons who pose serious threats to the public or Officers, and detect
different types of narcotics. These dogs where all trained in Europe and
Mexico and were matched with their handlers in Little Rock Ark. at the Little
Rock K-9 Academy for several weeks of intense training.

Trailing and Cadaver:

The trailing and cadaver dogs are being
handled by Det. M. Holmes. These dogs are
trained to search for people ( missing persons, lost children, lost elderly
persons, and suspects involved in crimes ).

Man Trailing is the act of following one
specific scent, while disregarding all other scents that are in the area, and
track that one scent. The blood hounds extraordinary ability to pick up the
scent left behind is second to none. The nose of a Bloodhound is so
good that evidence found by a Bloodhound will hold up in matters involving the
United States Supreme Court.

One
relatively new area of specialization, that is very promising, involves the use
of canines to detect the presence of human remains. These dogs can be trained to
detect human remains long after death., despite burial or attempted concealment.
Trained dogs are able to distinguish between human remains, animal remains, and
a wide range of other odors that would normally be expected to distract them.
Thus, their ability to distinguish between sources of similar biological odors
enhances their application in the area of Human Remains Detection (HRD). These
specially trained canines are usedto
detect human remains on both land and in water.

Narcotics Detection:

The ability of the police K-9s to locate
concealed narcotics contraband rests with two major qualities which are inherent
in the police service dog. The first is the dogís amazing olfactory (sense of
smell) capability. When the remarkable sense is coupled with the dogís strong
play drive, the dogs are taught to associate the scent of specific narcotics
with their "reward" or "toy." To earn this reward, the dogs
are trained to search boxes, rooms, yards, automobiles, and any other locations
where there is a likelihood someone may have concealed narcotics contraband. An
effort is made to prevent the dog from coming into direct contact with any of
these drugs as these drugs are as poisonous to dogs as they are to humans.
Suspects sometimes use distraction scents to mask the odor of narcotics
contraband in an attempt to foil the detection capabilities of the animals.
However, for the most part, these efforts have failed as documented by the
hundreds and hundreds of pounds of seized narcoticscontraband which were
destined for street-level sales.

The Port Arthur Police Department Narcotics Canines have been trained and are certified to detect the presence of
marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine.

Handler

Canine

Breed

Job Description

Sergeant Kris Boneau

Niko

German Shepherd

Dual Purpose

Detective Mark Holmes

Jack

Lab

Human Remains Detection

Officer Ryan Kidwell

Koa

German Shepherd

Dual Purpose

Officer Lakeisha Thomas

Nitro

LAb

Narcotics

Officer Peter Croak

Chewy

Belgian-Malinois

Dual Purpose

Officer Cory Cole

Apollo

German Shepherd

Dual Purpose

Det. P. Brittan

Harry

German Shephard

Dual Purpose

Canine Training and Daily Care:

The Port Arthur Police Department Canines
(trailing, cadaver and narcotics detection) are trained in-house by the K-9
Detail. Training continues throughout the career of each Canine. The
canine members of the Port Arthur Police Department are kenneled at their
handlers' homes. Although not a "family-pet," the dogs are
members of each handler's family. Handlers are quick to point out that all
Canines are "working dogs," not pets. Because these animals are
so well trained and have stable, obedient personalities, they fit well into the
officers' families, and are properly obedient and respectful around the
officers' children and family pets.

K-9 Demonstrations:

The Port Arthur Police K-9 Detail provides informative
talks and K-9 demonstrations to schools, clubs, and professional organizations
about the functions of police canines and how they are able to assist law
enforcement officers to perform their job more effectively. The K-9 Detail
also gives short demonstrations which allow participants to view first-hand how
the police canine works. These demonstrations help dispel any false impressions
the public may have about police K-9's as well as increase and improve police
community relations. Any request for K-9 demonstrations or services can be made
to Sgt. Kris Boneau 409-983-8680.